Schools and Movements
Gestalt Psychology
guh-SHTAHLT (German Gestalt, meaning form or configuration)
Also Known As Gestaltism
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Gestalt psychology is a theory of perception emphasizing that psychological phenomena are processed as whole, organized patterns rather than as a sum of individual components, under the maxim that the whole is more than the sum of its parts. It arose as a reaction against structuralism's decomposition of experience into elements. Max Wertheimer, Kurt Koffka and Wolfgang Kohler founded it in the early 20th century, with Wertheimer's 1912 publication marking its beginning.
Facts
Central QuestionWhy is perceived experience organized into whole, structured patterns rather than assembled from independent sensory components? 1 Founded Year Cross-Tradition Connections
Held Differently
Gestalt psychology arose as a direct reaction against structuralism, offering a different account of how perception is organized (as wholes) rather than structuralism's decomposition into elemental sensations.
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Sources
1. Wikipedia: Gestalt psychology
Wikimedia FoundationleadQuote, lead
emphasizes psychologically processing entire patterns
1. Wikipedia: Gestalt psychology
Wikimedia FoundationHistory sectionQuote, History section
Wertheimer's publication of these results in 1912 marks the beginning of Gestalt psychology.
1. Wikipedia: Gestalt psychology
Wikimedia FoundationIntroductionQuote, Introduction
Gestalt psychology is a school of psychology, and a theory of perception, that emphasizes psychologically processing entire patterns (and configurations), not merely individual components of situations or events separately.
1. Wikipedia: Gestalt psychology
Wikimedia FoundationLead sectionQuote, Lead section
Gestalt psychology, gestaltism, or configurationism is a school of psychology, and a theory of perception.
1. Wikipedia: Gestalt psychology
Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: Structuralism, History/Overview sectionQuote, Associated With: Structuralism, History/Overview section
psychological phenomena as organized, structured wholes
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